Recommendations for Sydney

J and I will be in Sydney for 4 whole weeks starting this weekend!

Here are some activities we're thinking of doing while we're in Sydney (in no particular order).

1. Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge
2. Learn to surf
3. Learn to sail
4. Go to the beach
5. Visit the Opera House
6. Eat good Chinese food.

If anyone has recommendations for things to do, places to eat or attractions to visit please let us know! Thanks! =)
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6 responses
not sure if you'll be going to other places in australia after sydney, but i would definitely recommend the trip up to Cairns to go to the great barrier reef. take an overnight boat and you can snorkel or dive both in the afternoon and morning. it was amazing. also check out the rainforests there! as for sydney itself, i really enjoyed bondi beach -- there is a cliff walk from there that was really awesome (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g255060-d257354-r8063659-Bondi_Beach-Sydney_New_South_Wales.html). i also would recommend taking the ferry across the harbor to manly beach -- beautiful views on the ferry and a laid back place. for a small road trip, i stayed in a hostel in newcastle (about an hour north) and that's a fun little town. it's a good starting off point for hunter valley wine tours, which is fun if you are into that sort of thing. definitely find a zoo with open kangaroo pens -- you can feed them!
— erin
Do you already know where you're going to eat good Chinese food? I remember there's a really good Chinese dim sum restaurant. I'll ask my cousins what it's called.
— Xtine
Erin - We are going to be in Cairns for two weeks! =) I plan to do lots of diving/snorkeling. I am trying to convince J to go to Tarango Zoo with me sometime.
Xtine - If you could find out about that dim sum place that would be great! We arrived in Sydney yesterday morning and our first meal (lunch) was dim sum! Although, I don't know if it is considered a "good place."
— J & M
The Zoo is awesome. Make sure if you do it, you catch the ferry from circular quay, then catch the cable car to the top of the zoo and walk back down to the ferry. The views from the cable car are FANTASTIC (out across sydney harbour looking at the city).

I would also recommend going out to the Gap (the entrance to sydney harbour) it has some nice views and some interesting cliff formations.

Finally, if you have the time, try to get out to the Blue Mountains, specifically the Three Sisters [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_(Australia)], they are a fantastic to see, and a great connection to the Aboriginal Dream time.

Also, in terms of food, there are three australian staples to try, a bacon sandwich (real bacon, kinda like canadian bacon), a meat pie (just don't ask what's in it), and a sauage roll with sauce.

Sorry you had to enter the country at such a bad time though. It's not always that hot, and the bush fires always happen, though this level of destruction is a once in a decade kind of event.

— Mike Roberts
Mike - J's wondering what kind of snacks, drinks and beers is popular/typical in Australia. We'd like to "do as the locals" but there's so many to choose from!
— J & M
Beers... Little Creatures Pale Ale is my all time favourite beer. So get some of that if you can. Otherwise, in New South Wales, Tooheys is the beer of choice. Also if you want a mixed drink, a bundy and coke is pretty typical (Bundaberg Rum, which is made up in Queensland).

As for places to eat:

Phillips Foot - A pub in the rocks, you go, buy your steak and cook it yourself on thier BBQ's. It's a great way to experience the australian tradition of throwing a steak on a Barbie, without having to have a barbie.

Ichi Ban Boshi - A japanese noodle house on the 3rd floor of the Galleries Victoria building. It's pretty popular, and pretty tasty.

Harry's Cafe de Wheels (http://www.harryscafedewheels.com.au/) - It's a resturant that sells typical australian food, like meat pies, mushy peas, etc. It's not fancy, but it's typical australian food.

Chinese Food - East Ocean in china town. This is my brother and his wifes favourite chinese resturant.

— Mike Roberts
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